Clothes washing machine



Feb. Z, 1947. J. A. cAs'rlcONE .2,415,611

CLOTHESv WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 14, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb; 25,1947. J. A. cAsrnlcoNE 2,416,611

CLOTHES WASHING IIACHINE Filed Feb. 14, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 www@ige/zic.

Feb. 25, 1947. J. A. cAsTRlcoNE 2,416,611

CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 14, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 QQQQQQQOOooo'ooooooo IN V EN TOR.

J. A. CASTRICONE CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE Feb. 25, 1947.

- 5 shees-sheet s Filed Feb. 14, 1946 Patented Feb. 25, 1947 y 4UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE CLOTHES WASHING MACHINE John A. Castricone, Peoria,Ill., asslgnor to Altorfer Bros. Company, Peoria, Ill., a corporation ofIllinois Application February 14, 1946. Serial No. 647,565

22 Claims. l

This invention relates to domestic washing machines, and particularly toa washer incorporating a new washing principle or process wherein a.unldirectionally movable displacement dasher creates the washing actionwithout any axial rotation or oscillation as commonly used 1invanedagitator or impeller-type machines.

Although axially rotating or oscillating vanedagitator machines are themost popular type of washers on the market at the present time. it isrecognized that they .are hard on clothes because of the heavy axialrotating contact of the vanes on the clothes. This is particularly trueunder large-batch loading conditions when one or two garments riding onthe vanes may transmit the Another object is to provide an improved highfull force of the driving mechanism on practically the full load ofclothes. Under such conditions, the power transmitted is often doublethenormal power input. Furthermore. whenlarge or long garments are loadedand on'e end or section is caught on an axially rotating vane while thebalance of the garment is entwlned through the a batch, the pull onsucha garment often tears it. For instance, careful housewives do notwash lace curtains with batches of clothes in axially rotating vanewashers.

Because ofthe uneven power requirements of agitator-type washers due tothe clothes riding the vanes, sucli'fwashers must. employ heavyexpensive gear cases, back-geared for speeds be#v tween 50 to 100 R. P.M. and capable of' transmitting 100% overloads for short periods oftime. The standard 1/4 H. P. washing machine motor employed on such amachine must be capable of transmitting 1/2 H. P. periodically.

It is the particular object of the present invention to provide athoroughly effective washing action wherein cyclic toroidal rollingwater cur- .f rents are created in a throbbing action-inwardly towardthe .dasher. at the upper portion thereof and downwardly therealong andoutwardly and upwardly at the lower portion thereof, and by aunidirectionally movable dasher having no fixed axial rotation whichcauses the clothes to be forced outward at the lower end of the dasherand to be drawn inward and downward at the upper end of the dasher. y

I designate the clothes contacting and water circulating means as a"dasher to differentiate it from thel conventional agitator or impeller,in order to divorce its displacement action without powered axialrotation from the power-driven pump-like radially-rotatingvaned-impeller or its similarly powered axially-rotated oscillatingagitator.

having projecting vanes or the like for contacting clothes but withoutpower-driven axial movements which would injure the clothes.

A further object isto provide a unidirectionally movable washermechanism whereiny the clothes arev distributed evenly around the tub byan orbital movement of the dasher with respect to the tub wall and whilethey are being slowly rotated relative thereto in loose conditionfloating ,in the wash water. i

The machine is designed to incorporate a unidirectional driving meansactuating a dasher in an orbital path producing reactionary forceswithin the wash water that cause a predetermined continuous action or'cyclic toroidal current flow` of such wash water together with theclothes therein, and wherein such currents are produced by throbbingpulsations of the water,depending upon the rotary speed of theunidirectional drivingmeans.

In addition to the reclrculating wash-water currents, it is an object ofthe invention to pro-v vide such recirculation in a predetermineddirection and selected path. This is accomplished in one way by thecharacter of movement imparted to the vanes on the dasher, which willproduce a throbbing action in the bottomy of the tubcausing an outwardand upward cyclic motion of the clothes and a reactionary inward andAdownward movement along the upper portion of the dasher, producing agreatly improved washing action.

In its preferred form, the dasher surface contour is so shaped as toprovide a continuous imperforate circumferential wall at the baseportion of the dasher and with the vanes thereabove, making the mosteffective pumping action generic to the bottom zone of the tub at thearea of greatest hydrostatic pressure, whereby the currents of washwater are`forcefully directed radially outwardly from the base portionofthe dasher and upwardly out of the space between the dasher base andthe tub Wall.

To augment the washing action and to prevent clothes directly in therecirculating zone of they water without impairing the displacementdasher action.

It is a further feature of the present invention to provide a dasherthat ls mounted for oating additional washing action.

` provide, when needed, for maintaining the dasher against appreciablerotation on its axis while beihiS'maChlIiel ing moved inv an orbit. Thisis accomplished 3o Fig. 15 1s a partial perspective view .of thetinually but slowly rotated around the tub which 4 i further effects theequal distribution of the is confined between a tubular sleeve I4 and anclothes in the tub.

this specification.

when removed from the machine;

fview of the main working parts of the machine and more specificallythroughthe dasher` structure and its mounting;

l or restrained axial rotation upon its supporting lustrate the detailsof a preferred design of slip bearings and which moves bodily in'anorbit with clutch mechanism employedjin the present respect to its`driving axis, the dasher being washer; i shaped to perform thedisplacement action which i 1, produces radially circulating toroidalwater cur- 5 dasher diagrammatically illustrating certain rents thatdefinitely drive the clothes radially principles of operation thereof; iand in tumbling fashion within the water and in y 1 a direction towardthe upper surface of the dashtaken substantially along the line 6--6 inFig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a. plan view of the.I machine tub and Fig. 6 is a horizontalcross-sectional view a er and the vanes with the clothes sliding down-Fig. 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view as wardly along the edges ofthe vanes of the dasher, taken substantially along the line I-1 in Fig.3,

The action of vthe clothes and water moving to illustrate furtherdetails of construction of the generally radially toward the dasher andlightly dasher;

contacting the same act normally to restrain it l i against substantialradial movement relative to l i the wall of the tub While turning on itsown bearl5 tion 0f Washing machine, but wherein the dasher I ings. Thedasher normally stands still on its l iS Provided With apertures capableof Creating i axis while being moved in an orbit about its drivl ingshaft, but upon contacting bunched clothes throbbing action in the lowerportion 0f the tub; may rotate slowly to effect uniform disposition of 1the clothes'around the tub wall. In this connec- 20 tively. 0f a rosettetype 0f a dasher which may i tion, the dasher may be constructed invarious be used in place 0f Other dashers for producing i shapes havingpredetermined contours and a prethe Washing aCtiOn:

Fig. 8 is a sectional view through a dasher of the kind illustratedA inthe preferred construcwater jets to assist vanes in creating the desiredFigs. 9 and 10 are plan and vside views, respecdetermined arrangement ofvanes. Also, the Figs. 11 and 12 are plan and side views, respec- 1dasher' may include apertures in the body thereof l tively, of anothermodified construction of dasher to produce water-current puffs or jetseffecting that-1S usable in the Washing machine 0f the present design;.K y

Figs. 13 and 14 are plan and side views, respec- Another object of thepresent invention is to tively, of still another form of dasher for usein preferably by providing a Slip clutch meohanism dasher illustratingdiagrammatically the water i operatively connected with the dasher andcar- Currents Produced; and ried upon the fixed column providing thebearing structure forV the dasher.` This slip clutch i mechanism actsnormally to restrain the dasher porting a tub 2 DIOVided with the usuallid 3. from turning upon its mounted bearing axis while The tub hasdasher mechanism 4 of the present l moving about the drive shaft.However, with this design diagrammaticlly illustrated as mounted snpclutch mechanism, the dasher may assume for operation substantiallycentrally of the wash- Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic plan view thereof. Fig.1 illustrates a washer having a base I, supf various new operative axialpositions with reing tub 2 l spect to its own axis anywhere within the360 4o A motor 5 1S convemently mounted within the degrees ofuotivitywithin the tub. Such autobase I 0f the Washmg machine to drive directlymatically selected axes of operation normally will the dasher 4 througha belt drive 6 connecting .depend upon the loading of the machine whichl the motor pulley 1 wlth the dasher driving pu11ey directly affects thewashing action as determined 8, and the latter is secured to the maindrive by the number of articles oi' clothing within the 45 shaft 9 ofthe dasher. Obviously, it is tobenoted tub and upon the Sizes yandVWeights thereof and Vthat thel entire drive is unidirectional and exitheir grouping during the operation of the washtremely simple. with n0reduction gearing or gear ing machine. This restrained rotation `of thebox.v and only a minimum number of moving ,dasher is specified asoatable." It will be ob- Parts.

vious that heavy loads will be subjected to more Referring now to Fig.3, the shaft9 isrotatabiy 1 squeezing action than light loads. It' isalso mounted in bearings I I) and II Seeured'inspaced relationship in acenter post I2. This center post I2 ls provided with an annular crimp'I3 that worthy of careful note that the clothes are cono annular baseplate I5, such'sleeve and plate be- A11 other objects and advantagesinherent in p ins conveniently secured to lthe base of the tub 3 thewashing process andmachine of the present in any desired manner. designhereinafter shall be referred to in the fol- The upper end of the shaft9 is fixed rigidly lowing detailed description having reference to t0 aCap I6 that is secured to and forms a Dart the accompanying drawingsforming a part of of a depending driving sleeve I1 which is conncentrically disposed with respect to the shaft 9 Inthe drawings: androtates upon a` bearing I8 secured to and Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic sideelevational view surrounding a. portion of the sleeve I4. A crank of thewashing machine ofthe present invention pin I9 is secured to the cap I6in oifset relation i having certain parts broken away and in section tothe axis of the shaft 9, producing an eccentric tg illustrate thegeneral details of construction drive, but with the axis of said crankpin I9 prefereof;

I erably spaced inwardly from the periphery of Fig. 21s a plan view ofthe dasher per se as seen the major portion of the length of the sleeveI1. y rI'he dasher 4 has a main body 20 provided with an Fig. 3 is avertical transverse 4cross-sectional 70 upper bearing bushing 2|journaled on the crank pin I9 supporting the dasher 4 thereon forrelative rotation about the axis of the pin I9.

The depending end of the driving sleeve I1 ter- Fig. 4 is a horizontalcross-sectionalview taken minates in an eccentric 22 having` a conicallyf substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig, 3, to il- 75 tapered bearingsurface 23. A plurality of rollers 24 are journaled upon pins 25 mountedin a ring 21 to the body 20 of the dasher. These rollers 24 areconically positioned to engage properly the surface 23 of the drivingeccentric 22, and the central a'xis of the eccentric 22 is positioned indirect alignment with the axis of the crank pin 9 thereby determiningthe axial eccentricity of the entire dasher 4 in relation to the axialcenter of the drive shaft 9.

Figs. 6 and 7 better illustrate certain details of construction showingthe eccentric mountings of the dasher with respect to the drive shaft.It is to be noted in Fig. 6 that there are three rollers 24 preferablyequally spaced onv 120 degree radial plane positions.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, the dasher body 29 is shown as provided`further with a bracket 2l having a roller 29 rotatably carried upon apin 39 supported by the bracket 29. This roller engages a side face ofan arm 3| forming a portion of the slip clutch mechanism indicatedgenerally at 32 in Figs. 3 and 4. This slip clutch mechanism comprises apair of oppositely disposed friction straps 33 and 34 which encircle andfrictionally engage a stationary nanged brake sleeve 35 that is securedto the tubular sleeve 4 so as normally to be fixed against rotation. Thestrap 33 former an integral portion of best seen in Fig. 4.

A pair ofnadiustable spring tensioning units 39 and 3l connect thestraps 33 and 34 yieldably to urge such straps into a predeterminedfrictional contact with the brake sleeve 35, the spring units 33 and 31having adjustable means to increase or decrease the spring tension orfrictional resistance offered between the surfaces of the straps the arm3| as 33 and 34 and the brake sleeve 35 encircled by such straps. i 1

With this construction, the arm 3| extends radially outwardly from thefixed slip clutch mechanism that oii'ers a predetermined reactionaryforce through the arm 9| against the roller 29 of the dasher 4. Thisslip clutch mechanism 32 normally should be tightened sufilciently onthe sleeve 35 so as to hold the dasher 4 against any appreciable axialrotation while, nevertheless, moving through its orbit on rotation ofthe drive shaft 9. If loosened slightly, the mechanism 32` will allowvery slow axial .rotation of the dasher.

The direction of rotation of the drive shaft 9 is indicated in Fig. 3,and this direction is such as to floatably abut the roller 29 againstarm 3|. The maximum movement of the roller 29 parallel to the arm 3| isdetermined by the amount of eccentricity of the dasher 4, which is fromthe full line position in Fig. 4, to the dotted line position. Thisrestrains the normal back-and-forth travel of the bracket 28 and theadjacent portion of the dasher-supported roller 29. The other part ofthe body of the dasher performs a compound motion somewhat as shown inFig. 5, which may be summed up as comprising a bodily eccentric ororbital motion of the entire dasher, accompanied by a non-rotationthereof relative to the tub under normal operation as floatably governedby the slip clutch mechanism.

As stated belfore, the slip clutch can allow the arm 3| to move ineither direction, and the arm 3| is shown in Fig. 5 as shifted from thedotted line position to the dash-and-dot position at 49. This latterposition is only anarbitrary angular displacement, it being obvious thatthe displacement of arm 3| may taken any `radial position about the 360degrees of operation of the dasher slip clutch combination described ormay revolve slowly therearound. Normally, through driving frictionbetween the parts, the direction of pressure of the dasher against thearm 3| is clockwise.

one position, 4|, which coincides with the position that the dasher 4occupies in Figs. l and 3. Other successive positions at 9 degreedisplacements are indicated in Fig. 5, by the reference characters a, band c, respeptively. The corresponding roller positions of the roller 29are indicated at 4|', a', b' and c, respectively. f e

The shifting of the slip clutch mechanism 32 and the axial position ofthe dasher, as judged by the location of the bracket 29 land itsroller29, will be determined under different conditions of loading as theyarise during the operation `of the washing machine. Excessive bunchingof clothes in one portion olf the tub, producing a crowding oroverloading condition, will tend to force the dasher and its rolleragainst the slip clutch arm 3|,l which restrains rotation ofthe dasher,to relieve the` stressedv condition. This displacement will occurcontinually to shift the dasher about its own axis as the latter isbeing moved bodily through the unidirectional movement of the maindriven shaft 9 and theeccentric driving arrangement. Under normalevenloaded conditions ofthe tub the mechanism will operate almostindependently of the slip clutch. n Referring to Figs. 1 and 3. it willbe noted that the dasher 4 is shown as provided with a smoothsurfacedportion 42 forming a continuous imperforate circumferential wallsubstantially verticallyv disposed and having a relativelylarge'diameter with respect to the internal diameter oi' the tub 2.However, the enlarged portion 42 is spaced an appreciable distancefrom'the wall of the tub'so as not, to interfere with the free cyclicmovement oli the clothes therebetween. At the same time this portion 42extends down close to the bottom of the tub. The upper portion of thedasher 4 forms a'column 43 of considerably smaller diameterthan thediameter of the base portion 42. l a

'Ihe general contour and shape of the dasher, as lviewed in Fig. 3,includesa vplurality of radial vanes 44 extending from the Abase 42 tothe 50 upper end of the columny 43giilling in the valley portion of themiddle part ofi-the dasher.. These rate determinedl by therotationalspeed of the shaft 9. the base portion 42 of the dasher4imparting continuous radial water currents in va. pref v determinedprogression moving. outwardly toward the tub walls at the bottom portionof thedasher and creating aninward suctionand downwardly therealong atthe `upper portion olf the-dasher, to recirculate radially inwardlytoward thefdasher and downwardly along the varied columns `and throughthe valley of the same, such currents sub- Vstantially following thepathsof the arrowsk indie cated in Figs. 1, 3 and 15. I i .l

This action has been observed in actual operation not only Vwith adasher-*ofthe character In Fig. 5, the dasher is outlined as occupyingvforce downwardly along is because there is described above, constructionbut. to be immersed in the water. and moved through an orbit at arelatively high velocity but of con-s nned magnitude less than thatwhich would cause a radial discharge uof the clothes therefrom bycentrifugal force. The preferred stroke is of the order of one-half inchfrom the center axis of the shaft 9 to the center axis of the bearingI9. The speed of the shaft 9 is preferably of the orde;` of 180 to 240R. P. M. These characteristics are described, however, merely asillustrative, and may be varied so long as the desired throbbing actionis obtained without appreciable centrifugal force that would tend toforce the clothes outward in the tub.

The action observed appears to be caused by the'action of the vanesmoved in the water byl the orbital motion lof the dasher. The characterof the water action that appears to result therefrom is indicated by thearrows in Fig. 15. The action of the vanes moved'in the orbit, as shownin full lines and in dotted lines ln Fig. 16, acts on the water to causea throbbing in the lower portion of the tub which will imparta suctionthe dasher and inwardly at the top thereof. This is observed to have theeffect in actual use of drawing the clothes inwardly toward the upperportion of the dasher and downwardly therealong, thence outwardly andupwardly, in toroidal action and in loose condition, obtaining themaximum washing eiect. At the same time the clothes are not wrappedaround the dasher, nor hang on the vanes.

The orbital movement of lthe dasher 4 will act within the ring ofclothes that forms therearound to-cause a turn-over of the ring at thebottom portion of the dasher, constantly pushing out on the clothes atthe lower inner sector of the ring, as the vanes 44 and the cylindricalportion 42 are moved outward and inward at any particular portion of thedasher by the orbital movement thereof.: This action tends to turn-overthe clothes in the, ring and at the same time, due to the relativelynarrow spacing of the vanes 44, not more than 90 from each other, tocreate-the downward and inward circulation of water therebetween, aspointed out above, to increase this turnover of the clothes,substantially in a continuous progressive manner around the dasher asthe latter. is moved through its orbit. l

This produces a steady overturning of the clothes in the same directionas indicated by the arrows, and the wash water is forced through theclothes by reason of the high speed throbbing pulsationsimparted to thewater by the dasher, making the movement of the than the movement, of fthe clothes to produce a very effective relative washing action to cleanthe clothes quickly in a short interval of time and with a minimumamount of wear upon such clothes to further enhance the intrinsic valueof this washing process. The power input requirements of the mechanismare substantially uniform and lower than impeller-type washers. This noheavy riding of radially moving vanes and the elimination of inertialoads inherent in reversing mechanism.

. The introduction of the radial vanes 44 and 45 prevents the clothesfrom hugging the dasher column and maintains sufficient clearance forthe recirculation of the wash water downwardly along the columns of thedasher and toward the strong displacement throbbing action zone adjacentthe base 42 that sends its rapidly radiating water but also with'dashers of other having radial vanes in position water considerablyfaster currents outwardly as described. A Obviously, the vanescontribute to the washing action to produce a light rubbing actionduring the eccentric motion of the dasher. The clothes immediatelyadjacent the dasher are carried downwardly and around to follow thecontour of the dasher as they move from the upper level toward the lowerlevel with the recirculating water currents gon-q .stantly changingduring the eccentric action of the dasher relative to the tub wall. p

Thus, the washing machine embodies a dasher having eccentric motion tomove bodily the entire dasher in the path of the eccentric movement, andsuch dasher is restrained vor floatably supported to rotateindependently. The high speed frequency ofthe eccentric motion producesthe diverging water currents off of the surface of the dasher and due tothe character of the vanes thereon, the currents recirculate to move theclothes toward the tub wall for movement upwardly therealong and backtoward the center portion of the machine and the .dasher, Whereat thecurrents again reverse themselves to move downwardly along the surfaceof the dasher carrying the clothes downwardly in a position somewhatstraddling the individual ns for rubbing therealong while such clothestravel downwardly near the body of the dasher. Inasmuch as theApulsations are generally radially and evenly distributed, the clothesand wash water acquire only a slow circular motion within the tub.

Therefore, it is worthy of careful note that thecombination of theradial vanes and rapidly pulsating water currents have thedesirableeffect of distributing the clothes evenly around the dasher so that allportions of the clothes batch are subjected to practically uniformwashing treatment. With this in mind, the mechanism 32 illustrated inFigs. 3 and 4, might be entirely omitted, if desired, to eliminate anyform of mechanical control means. Without the slip clutch mechanism 32,the dasher is only acted upon by the clothes so that the loading andproximity of the clothes alone will control the movements of the dasherupon its own axis of rotation. Such clothes, however, have no effectwhatever upon the bodily orbital motion of ,the dasher as the latter ispositively driven by the unidirectional power drive means.

Other dashers may be substituted for the dasher body 20 illustrated asthe preferred construction. Fig. 8 represents such a modifiedconstruction wherein the dasher body 20 is provided with a plurality ofapertures 46 extending along certain 55 sections thereof, as shown,leaving the lower pump action portion 42 of the dasher continuous andimperforate, as shown. The apertures 46 in this form produce a multitudeof jets at one side of the dasher as indicated in Fig. 15. Thus,l d0 thewashing action is further aided by the jets produced by the openings inthe dasher and the radial fiat vanes on opposite sides thereof.Obviously, the location and direction of the openings ymay be changed tosuit certain conditions of 65 operation and to obtaina predeterminedresult in conjunction with the main washing action produced by theeccentrically moving dasher as previously described.

The dasher illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 is in the form of'a rosettewherein the general contour thereof includes the radially-formed vanes41. This dasher shows the vanes 41 as curving upwardly and inwardly fromthe base 48 of such dasher so that the greatest pressure area thereofexists near its bottom.

slip clutch i The dasher in Figs. 11 and 12 provides a cylindrical body49 having the apertures 50 therein which terminate intermediate thelength thereof to provide a solid base portiontl which introduces thegreatest pump action as hereinbefore referred to, the current waterpressure being decreased along the'apertured area thereof. This dasheris provided with vanes 52 shaped as shown and radially positioned as inthe other forms of dasher.

'Another modiiled construction of dasher appears in Figs. 13 and 14which is generally provided with a conical body 53 having an enlargedbase portion 54 tapering towardv the reduceddiameter top portion. Aplurality of radially disposed surface vanes 56 cover the surfaceportion of the dasher for enhancing the washing action as previouslydescribed. With this latter type of dasher, the greatest displacementpump action portion will be adjacent the base 54 creating a greaterpressure zone than can be y established along the upper portions of thesame unit. The more forceful water current zone cre-U ated bythis dasheris enhanced by the fact that the hydrostatic head of the wash watervarieswith the depth thereof, placing the greatest water pressureadjacent the lower portion of the dasher body to be acted thereon forproducing the recirculating water currents that act so emciently to washthe clothes in the presentmachine and in a relatively shortA interval oftime.

For removal of the dasher for replacement purposes, the upper end of thedasher body Il is covered with a closure cap 51 which normally coversand houses a hand nut Il which screws.

upon the upper threaded end of the stud is normally to hold the dasherin operative positionv with respect to its eccentric driving .mechanismand to the tub. Removalv of the vcap l1 and loosening of the hand nutllzwill allow `lifting the dasher body Il out .of .the machine vwheneverremoval is desired., Replacementlth cof To summarize the actionof upleherein presented; r-ine includes. af tub that may be round, square oryof other shape l in contour, la vaned Adasher.inisaid tub, a drivelymechanism having eccentricsupportin'g bearings4 to carry the dashenwithdasher being freely or. iloatably supported upon such bearingsto seekits ownangular positionsrelative to its own axis. and. wherein, thedrive mechanisrnyforcesl the dasher to move about the `dri've'anorbit ata predetermined rate of speedi-i-generally much y faster than axia lyrotating impellers `or agitators. l 'I n f In eii'ect, thedasherjactually rotatesv upon its own bearings at a rate *of speed whichcauses e it normally to stand still'relative to the tub while l theeccentric drivingarrangement, moves the dasher bodily throughpthe' orbitaboutithe' drive shaft. The action ofthe-vclothesmoving vradiallyinwardly toward and against-the dasher andv moving alongl the vanes'thereon *normally prevents rotation of the dasher relatively ltoitsassumed angular placement upon vits;sur'iportingl bearings.

Bunching or off-balance groupingof' .clothes which may occur only duringthe initial loading ci' the machine, will act upon the dasher toautomatically adjust themselves about lthe dasher under uniform watercurrent pulsations to equally` surround the dasher, thereby distributingthe washing load. With this construction. the clothes actually maintaintheir equally distributed posh anden I. tions through the washingoperation while the machine subjects all the clothes to `the ysamecleansing action, which is a combination of slowrotation around thetub.. and cyclic toroidal roil.

s ing in relatively faster water. currents.

Changes in the exact lconstruction and combination of parts of thewashing machine and its embodied mechanism are contemplated. All suchmodifications and substitution of yequivalent 10 means in the design ofthe preferred construction shown and described shall be governed by.`the breadth and scope o1 the appended claims submitted herewith anddeilnlng the fundamental structure of the present invention. 15 What Iclaim is:

1. In a washing machine, a receptacle adapted to contain a kbody ofliquid for washing fabrics I therein, a dasher'extending upwardly in there-l ceptacle,` said dasher having upwardly extending vanes on theperiphery thereof, and means for operating said dasher in an orbitalmotion of small magnitude and relatively high velocity such that acyclic toroidal rolling action is created in the liquid inwardly anddownwardly at the upper portion ofthe dasher and outwardly and upwardlyat the lower portion thereof, said vanes comprisf ing relatively thinflat blades projecting radially from theperiphery of the dasher andextending throughout the maior portion of the length thereof, saiddasher having perforations in the upper portion thereof between theblades.- p

' 2. In a washing machine, a receptacle adapted `to contain a body ofliquid for washing fabrica therein. a dasher extending upwardly in there- `ceptacle, said dasher being approximatelybellabovev and oi'appreciably smaller diameter than 40 said rim portion, vanes extendingupwardly along 5 motion;

` 3.. Ina washing machina] tub, a drivcfshaft y y projecting within thetub, a dasher'eccentrically jmormted on the drive shaft andhavingclothes l clearanceproiections thereon' to provide vertical 5o waterpassageways adjacent the body of the dasli-` y er and'assceiated withthe' shaftiorjbodily vtating movement around the shaft, and vmesniltation lduring its orbital 'movement to yieldably restrain the dasheragainst axial rov I* 4. Ina washing machine, a tub,"`a dasherin 4 saidtub, and drive mechanism for said dasher' comprising a unidirectionaldrive shaft.v driving means connected between said drive shaft and saiddasher to bodily move thev latter in an orbito about said drive shaft,and reactionary ymeans connected `with said dasher normallyv to holdth'cf same in 'a predetermined angular position with' said tub duringoperation, said reactionary means] comprising ay support, an armprojecting therefrom, andl alrollerron said dasherin position forlabutting contact withsaidarm.

yed with said dasher normally to hold the same in a predeterminedangular position within Z5 tubv during operation,` said reactionarymeans shapedy with an outwardly flaring imperforate rim portion at thelowerA end thereof and with an inwardly tapering side walll portionthere il. In a washing machine, fa tub,fadasher tub, and .drivemechanism'.`for saiddasher g comprising a Aunidirectional drive shaft,driving means connected between said drive shaft andsaid dasher tobodily move thelatter in an orbit about v M said drive shaft, andreactionary means connecthaving'- Derforationsv in the upper portionthereof vbetween the blades. 7. In awashingmachine, a

tending upwardly in-fthej tub, a.v drive-sleeve tele- 1 scoped'overf`the4shaftjin V-the tub concentrically-- i thereof and secured thereto forrotation with. the lshafta dasher v"ext ending about the drive sleeve;jfl meansl journaling'g'theylower end portion of the] I .tendingupwardly yin the tub, adrive' sleeve telescoped' -over the shaftinthetub jconcentrimlly'` '1 L thereof and's'ecuredtheret'o for rotation withthe V shaft, a dasher .extending about thel drive sleeve, I means:journaling ,theA lower -end portion of the L 10. In ja' ,washingmachine, a

contain a -bodyof' liquid for` 'washing yclothes Q comprising'a;fixedlsupport,an. arm, a roller conl nected with said dasher and havingabutting engag'ement with said arni,v and releasable slipvclutch ymechanism for mounting said arm on said support I to allow automaticangular shifting of said arm 5 and saidA dasher under unbalanced loadconditions Y during the operation of said washer.

6. In a washingmachine, a receptacle adapted l to contain a'body'ofliquid for washing fabrics i 1 therein, a dasher lextending upwardly inthe receptacle, said dasher having upwardly extending vanes, onvthefperiphery thereof,v and means for operating'said' 4vdasher in anorbital motion of smallmagnitude andrela'tively high velocity such 3that acyclicgtoroidalrolling action is created in l the liquid inwardly`and downwardly at the upper portion of the dasheria'nd" outwardly'and-upwardlyat the lower portion thereof, said dasher 2o tub, a shaftextending upwardly in the tub and rotatably mountof the dasherf-ecc'en-8. Ina washing machine-1a'tub,-aivshaft'ex z drive sleeve :.i'ntl'ieftiib,l and means journaling' the dasher on; the d rivsleeve on" anaxis, spaced '.in- 4 wardly of vthefperiph'eryV o i the major 'portion,ofv 1 i-b'earings', land saidv lower bearing having' albe'ar--vingsurfaceextending about v the' driv e sleeve.; r;-

9L` a washing machine, a ztnb,fa shaft exvj drive fsleeve in thetub, andmeans Journalingthe thelengthoffthe' drive sleeve and eccentrically.

of th'e-axisfofA the drive shaft for causing orbital' movementofythedasher about the drive shaft, f said journaling means'gincludingupper and lower bearings, and s 'aidlower bearing having a bearing asurfaceextending about the drive sleeve adjacent the lower end, of thedasher.

ltub adapted to thereinf2 a drive shaft extending lupwardlyin saidZt-ub, "and a 'dasher. surrounding said shaft and i journaled for freeand independent rotation rela-` tive lto said shaft vand-tub; said shaftbeing connected with the dashereccentrically of the shaft for movingthe'dasher bodily in an orbit relative `l:to thejaxis'ofthe shaft, saiddasher having a -diametric'aily reduced upper portion and a dia- 1-meti'ically relatively enlarged lower portion joined 75 dasher entheidrive 'sleeve on an axis spacedi'n-V xwardlylofithe periphery of themajorl portion 'of 11. In a. washing machine. a tubi. adapted to containa body of liquid for washing. clothes therein, a drive shaftexte'ndngupwardly in said tub. anda dasher'surrounding said shaft and journaledfor free andindependent rotation" rela-- tive to said shaft and tub,said shaft being connected with the dasher eccentrically of the shaftfor moving the dasher bodily in an orbit relative tothe axis oftheshaft, said dasher having an enlarged substantially cylindrical baseportion of appreciable height with a diametrically reduced y upperportion thereabove and rigid therewith and having inwardly inclinedconnecting portions therebetween. f 12. In a washing contain a. -body ofwater for Washing clothes therein, a drive shaft extending upwardly insaid tub, and a dasher surrounding said shaft and journaled for free andindependent rotation relative to said shaft and tub, said shaft beingconnected with the dasher eccentrically of the shaft for moving thedasher bodily in an orbit relative to the axis of the shaft, said dasherhaving a y body with a diametrically enlarged base' portion with adiametrically reduced upper portion thereabove and rigid therewith, andmeansV projecting outwardly from the body and spaced at intervals aroundthe body for holding the clothes spaced yfrom the body during saidorbital movement. f' y ,j 13. In a washing-(machine, a, tub adapted tocontain a body of Water for washing clothes therein,`a drive shaftextending upwardly in said tub, and agdasher: surrounding said shaft andjournaled yfor-free and independent rotation relative.tosaid'sljlaftvand tub, said shaft being com .e nectedwithfth'e dasher eccentrically ofthe shaft for 'moving` the. dasher bodily in an orbit relative totheaxis of the shaft, said dasher having a diametrically enlargedfsubstantially. cylindrical base portion of 'appreciableheight with adiametrically reduced vupper portionthereabove and rigid therewith,and'vanes spaced at intervals around-said uppery portion and extendingdownwardly substantially .to the base portion and having inward- .lyinclined outer edges, said vanes being spaced .apart circumferentiallyof the dasher not more than from each other.

14.111 awashing machine, a tub adapted to f contains, bodyof water forwashing clothes therein,` a drive shaft extending upwardly in said tub,

anda dasher surrounding said shaft and jour- 'n'aled for freeandindependent rotation relative to said shaft and tub, said shaft beingconnected with the dasher eccentrically of the shaft for mov- "ing thedasher bodily in an orbit relative to the l axis of theshaft, saiddasher being substantially bell-shaped and having outwardly extendingrelatively fiat vanes on the periphery thereof, and

spaced apart. circumferentially of the dasher not f more than 90 fromeach other, whereby thel clothes are caused to move outwardly at thebottom of the dasher and inwardly at the top thereof during said orbitalmovement.

15. In a washing machine', a tub adaptedto` contain a body of water forwashing clothes therein, a drive shaft journaled for rotation relativeto the tub, an upwardly extending dasher-sur'- rounding the axis of theshaft and having a di` ametrically enlarged lower portion and adiametrically reduced upper portion, said shaft being connected withlthe dasher eccentrically of the shaft for moving the dasher bodily inan orbit relthereto and tapered inwardly to said reduced up- `perportion.

machine, a tubadapted to anden ative to the. axisof'the shaft, and meansfor holding the dasher against rotation about its ownl axis during themovement thereof through `the orbit, said holding means including meansfixed'. relative to the tub with an outwardly extending portion, andmeans connected with the dasherj and bearing laterally against saidoutwardly extendingportion. a

f 16. In a washing machine,a tub adapted lto contain abody of waterfor-washing clothes th re- '-rotation during the movement thereofthroughy in, a drive shaft iournaled' for rotation rela ive to the tub,an upwardly extending dasher eccentrically connectedwith the drive'shaft for movement thereby in an orbit relative to the axis of y ment ofthe dasher'bodilyfin an orbit relative to the axis of the shaft,said'l'dasgher having a di- ,ametrically enlarged lowe'rlportion and adi- -f ametrically reduced'upperportion andsurroundland'means connectedwith the dasher and bearing laterally against said outwardly extendingpor-l tion.

17. In a washing machine, a tub adapted to contain a body of water forwashing clothes therein, a drive shaft journaled for rotation in thetub, a dasher surrounding the shaft and extending throughout the maiorportion of the height of the tub, said dasher having a body with adiametrically enlarged base portion and a diametrically reduced upperportionthereabove and rigid therewith and extending upwardly throughoutthe major portion of the height of the tub, and means spaced atintervals around said dasherand projecting outwardly from the body forholding the clothes away from the body, said shaft being connected withthe dasher eccentrically of the shaft for moving the dasher bodily in anorbit relative to the axis of the shaft, and means for holding thedasher against rotation during the movement thereof through the orbit,said holding means including means fixed relative to the tub with anoutwardly extending portion, and means connected with the dasher andbearing laterally against said outwardly extending portion.

18. In a washingl machine, a tub adapted to contain a body of water forwashing clothes therein, a drive shaft journaled for rotation in thetub, an 4upwardly extending dasher surrounding the axis of the shaft,said .dasher being substantially bell-shaped and having downwardly lextending relatively flat vanas on the periphery thereof and 4spacedapart circumferentially of the dasher not more 'than 90 from each other,said shaft being connected with the dasher eccentrically ofthe shaft formoving the dasher bodily lin an orbit relative to the axis of the shaft,and means for holding the -dasher against rotation about -its own axisduring the movement thereof through the orbit, whereby the clothes arecaused to move outward at the bottom of the dasher and inward at the topthereof during said' orbital movement, said holding means includingmeans fixed relative to the tub with an outwardly extending portion, andmeans connected with the dasher and bearinglaterally against saidoutwardly extending portion.

19. In a washing machine, a tub adapted to contain a body of water forwashing clothes therein, a drive shaft journaled for rotation relativeto the tub, a dasher surrounding the shaft and having a diametricallyenlarged 10Wer portion and a diametrically reduced 4uppeiportion, saidshaft being connected with the dasher eccentrically of the shaft formoving the dasher bodily vin an orbit relative tov the axis of theshaft, and means` for yieldably holding the dasher against the orbit.

20.'In a washing machine, a tub adapted to contain a body of water forwashing clothes therein, a drive shaft journaled for rotation relative-to the tub, a' dasher in the tub and eccentrically connected` with thedrive shaft for movethe shaft, and-means substantially fixed relative tothe tub and forming an kabutment in the 4 .patr of movement of thedasher through the orbit for restraining .the dasher against rotationabout its own axis during` movement thereof through the orbit.

21. In 4a. washing machine, a-'tub adapted to Y contain a body of liquidfor washing clothes thererelative to the axis rof the shaft, means torotate said shaft at a speed of approximately between 180 and 240 cyclesper minute, said dasher naving a diametrically reduced upper portion anda diametrically relatively enlarged lower portion Joined theretoY andtapered inwardly to said reduced upper portion.

22. In a washing machine, a tub adapted to contain a body of liquid forwashing clothes therein, a driv shaft extending upwardly in said tub,and a dasher surrounding. said shaft and Journaled for free andindependent rotation relative to said shaft and tub, said shaft being'connected with the dasher eccentrically of the shaft for moving thedasher bodilyin a circular orbit relative to the axis of the shaft. saidorbit having a radius approximately one-half inch in any div rectionfrom the center of the (orbit, and-means to rotate said drive shaft ataspeed of approximately between and 240 cycles per minute, said dasherhaving a diametrically reduced upper portion and a diametricallyrelatively enlarged lower portion Joined thereto and tapered inwardly tosaid reduced upper'portlon. JOHN A. CASTRICONE.

REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are of record in the me of thispatent:

' UNITED STATES PMA'IENTS Practical Treatise on Gearing. 24th edition,4th printing, April 1944, Brown -lx Sharpe Mfg Co.. Providence, R. I.,Chapter XX, Internal Gears. pages 157 to 160 inclusive.

